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Buddy Bison School Program - Kids need parks & parks need kids

The Buddy Bison school program was created in 2009 to engage Title I school children with local, state and national parks to teach environmental education and the benefits of outdoor recreation. If parks are to survive, the face of those parks must change and under-served communities must have access to these cultural and environmental resources. More than 80% of the students in the program qualify for free or reduced-priced lunch. This program has benefited children in 60 schools across the country in grades pre-K through 8th . This hands-on program enhances existing school curricula with an emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) as well as history, language arts, reading, geography, the arts, and outdoor recreation. Students also learn about the careers of professionals who support our parks-- and the importance of stewarding our public lands-- by arranging schools visits from our many conservation partners.

Providing a positive, exciting experience outdoors can change the perspective of a child forever. Ready to get started? Preparing for your adventure can be easy.Use these resources and follow Buddy Bison on Facebook and twitter for the most up-to-date information and news. And don't forget to register for Kids to Parks Day in May by clicking here. You can discover park events in your neighborhood, find free resources, and even win wonderful prizes!

Buddy Bison schools are ready to explore the outdoors! They are a network of dedicated educators that use parks and outdoor spaces as an extension of the classroom. Find your gallery for the latest adventure with Buddy Bison.

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Buddy Bison

Buddy Bison, our lovable woolly mascot encourages kids to explore outdoors, the parks are yours! Visit the Buddy Bison section of our site to learn more about our school program, and how you can get your own Buddy Bison and share your park adventures and photos. Did you know that proceeds from Buddy Bison sales help us get under-served kids to their local parks?

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NPT Selected for NPS Centennial Challenge Project

We are honored to be selected for a $450K match as part of the NPS Centennial Challenge Project to enhance and expand our youth programs! Read more here.

NPT Welcomes Steve Schuler to Our Board of Trustees

"I am very pleased to be a part of National Park Trust’s board during this very exciting time as we approach the centennial celebration.”

NPT Welcomes Carolyn Cohen to Our Leadership Council"I believe that as educators, we have a commitment to teach our youth the importance of sustaining parkland, empowering them as stewards to preserve our national treasures." Read More.